Sidney Crosby holds 'no ill will' toward Radko Gudas after Olympic injury
Photo credit: James Lang-Imagn Images
Sidney Crosby's comments on Radko Gudas' hit that injured him is drawing a bit of a reaction simply due to how Sid the Kid has taken everything in stride.
In what potentially could be his last Olympics, Sidney Crosby was unable to suit up for Team Canada against Team USA in the gold medal game, leaving him with a silver and causing some of his teammates to feel they let him down.
Crosby was injured when Anaheim Ducks and Czechia defender Radko Gudas crunched him at centre ice as Crosby's leg awkwardly bent underneath him. It was a scary sight that will see him miss at least the next four weeks with a lower-body injury.
Crosby shows no ill will towards Gudas after injury
But when asked about Gudas's hit, Crosby wasn't exactly holding a grudge. This is Crosby after all, and his comments about Gudas show that he holds no ill will towards him and that he was just doing his job:
I didn't have a problem with the play. He was trying to be physical and step up. Play hard as any defenseman would.
It went the wrong way as far as my end of it. I don't think he should feel the need to reach out or anything like that. It's hockey and that stuff happens. Unfortunately, it's one of those things.
It went the wrong way as far as my end of it. I don't think he should feel the need to reach out or anything like that. It's hockey and that stuff happens. Unfortunately, it's one of those things.
Considering that he had an entire nation calling for his head, Gudas getting the okay from Crosby right now is the only thing that matters. The 38-year old Crosby has been around for so long that he knows the risks that come with playing hard; especially internationally.
Crosby's injury puts NHL and Olympic future in potential jeopardy
Gudas for what it's worth did end up apologizing and felt bad for what happened, but in the fast-paced nature of the game, these things happen in the blink of an eye -- accidental or not.
Fans were not too shocked to see Crosby take the high road in the situation, and would expect nothing less from the future Hall of Famer:
He doesn't harbour any grudges against Gudas, you have to wonder as well if this plays a bit into the mentality of Crosby heading into 2030.
Though he'll be 42 years old, he could end up still playing for Canada in the Olympics if he is healthy and still active; though may have a bit of a reduced role going forward.
It will be hard for him to compete for a top spot when it comes to guys like Connor McDavid, Connor Bedard, Macklin Celebrini and others. He could be part of an older group with guys like Brock Nelson but with years away it's hard to tell.
For the Penguins it's a shame that he has to miss at least a month though they avoided the worst and he can return at some point, though whether they are in the playoffs or not is a whole different story.
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